Grade 12 Life Orientation
CAT Preparation
Dear learner,
This document you are holding in your hands is a guide to help you in preparation for
your Life Orientation CAT examination.
It contains study material, extra notes, supporting images as well as exam practice
questions from 2014 to 2018.
Ideally, this guide will be a supplement to what your educator does in class, and it can
be used effectively as a self-study guide.
From Examination Guidelines for Life Orientation DBE/2014
FORMAT OF THE EXTERNAL COMMON ASSESSMENT TASK (CAT)
This question paper is divided into three sections:
• SECTIONS A and B are COMPULSORY.
• SECTION A consists of multiple-choice questions and questions requiring short responses.
• SECTION B consists of two 15-mark questions to which learners must provide direct responses.
• SECTION C consists of three 15-mark questions of which learners must answer TWO questions.
The outline below will be followed when setting Life Orientation question papers (CAPS).
,TERM 1
,Stress
Stressors (pg. 3-9)
Stress management (pg. 10-14)
What is stress?
Stress is what we feel in situations we find difficult, challenging or even frightening.
When we feel we can’t cope with the situation.
What is good stress? (Eustress)
Stress that makes you ready for action as it gives you adrenalin and energy. E.g.
When you have to stand in front of the class and speak. It is for a short term and you
can have sweaty palms and a dry mouthy or butterflies in your tummy.
What is bad stress? (Distress)
If the stress is more than you can cope with, it is unhealthy. You may become ill,
unhappy and depressed. You are not able to do your task as well as you could. You
will have headaches or will not be able to sleep.
What is a stressor?
A stressor is anything, event or person that causes or triggers stress.
Symptoms of stress:
o Short term effects: Faster breathing/faster heart rate/dry mouth. Sweaty
palms/tension in your neck/butterflies in your tummy
o Long term effects: High blood pressure/headaches/ulcers/allergies etc.
Types of stressors:
o Physical: caused by physical harm, such as violence and sexual abuse.
o Environmental: caused by factors like extreme weather or pollution.
o Personality: people who are more prone to stress than others.
o Social: caused by the people around you e.g. peer pressure.
o Emotional: caused by your emotions e.g. relationship problems.
Why is it important to manage stress?
Your body produce cortisol and adrenalin. These are 2 stress hormones. Cortisol is
the hormone produced by fear, results in anxiety. Adrenalin is the hormone that
prepares the body to react physically to a threat. If you fail to manage your stress your
body can produce too much of the hormones for too long. The stress will damage your
body and change to chronic diseases like high blood pressure.
Factors that lead to stress in the work place:
o Poor management/poor planning by Autocracy by management
o Supervisors or managers. Tasks are demanding
o Lack of skills from other workers. Understaffed
o Poor work relations Low salary
o Poor relations between workers Poor resources to do proper job
o Poor work environment Poor work ethics by workers
o Incompetent workers Poor benefits
o Jealousy Poor attitude of superiors (no support )
, How to manage stress : Behaviours, techniques, strategies and examples of ways in
which stress can be managed
o Meditation is a natural method of relieving stress. Simple deep breathing exercises
can assist tremendously in relieving stress. Meditation helps to calm the mind.
o Exercise at least 3 times a week and eat healthy foods regularly.
o Avoid excess caffeine intake which can increase feelings of anxiety and agitation.
o Don't use illegal drugs, alcohol and tobacco.
o Learn relaxation exercises (abdominal breathing and muscle relaxation
techniques).
o Develop assertiveness training skills. For example, state feelings in polite, firm,
and not overly aggressive or passive ways ("I feel angry when you yell at me"
"Please stop yelling"). Rehearse and practice situations which cause stress.
o Learn practical and effective coping skills. For example, break a large task into
smaller, more attainable tasks.
o Decrease negative self -talk. Challenge negative thoughts about yourself with
alternative neutral or positive thoughts. "My life will never get better" can be
transformed into "I may feel hopeless now, but my life will probably get better if I
work at it and get some help."
o Learn to feel good about doing a competent job rather than demanding perfection
from yourself and others.
o Take a break from stressful situations. Activities like listening to music, talking to
a friend, drawing, writing, or spending time with a pet can reduce stress.
o Build a network of friends who help you cope in a positive way.
o A stress journal can help you identify the regular stressors in your life and the way
you deal with them. Each time you feel stressed; keep track of it in your journal. As
you keep a daily log, you will begin to see patterns and common themes.
o Learn how to say “no” – Know your limits and stick to them. Whether in your
personal or professional life, refuse to accept added responsibilities when you’re
close to reaching them. Taking on more than you can handle is a sure recipe for
stress and can lead to burn out.
o Avoid people who stress you out – If someone consistently causes stress in your
life and you can’t turn the relationship around, limit the amount of time you spend
with that person or end the relationship entirely.
o Plan: Take control of your environment – If the evening news makes you anxious,
turn the TV off. If traffic’s got you tense, take a longer but less-travelled route. If
going to the market is an unpleasant chore, do your grocery shopping online.
o Compile a to-do list – Analyze your schedule, responsibilities, and daily tasks. If
you’ve got too much on your plate, distinguish between the “should” and the “must.”
Drop tasks that aren’t truly necessary to the bottom of the list or eliminate them.
CAT Preparation
Dear learner,
This document you are holding in your hands is a guide to help you in preparation for
your Life Orientation CAT examination.
It contains study material, extra notes, supporting images as well as exam practice
questions from 2014 to 2018.
Ideally, this guide will be a supplement to what your educator does in class, and it can
be used effectively as a self-study guide.
From Examination Guidelines for Life Orientation DBE/2014
FORMAT OF THE EXTERNAL COMMON ASSESSMENT TASK (CAT)
This question paper is divided into three sections:
• SECTIONS A and B are COMPULSORY.
• SECTION A consists of multiple-choice questions and questions requiring short responses.
• SECTION B consists of two 15-mark questions to which learners must provide direct responses.
• SECTION C consists of three 15-mark questions of which learners must answer TWO questions.
The outline below will be followed when setting Life Orientation question papers (CAPS).
,TERM 1
,Stress
Stressors (pg. 3-9)
Stress management (pg. 10-14)
What is stress?
Stress is what we feel in situations we find difficult, challenging or even frightening.
When we feel we can’t cope with the situation.
What is good stress? (Eustress)
Stress that makes you ready for action as it gives you adrenalin and energy. E.g.
When you have to stand in front of the class and speak. It is for a short term and you
can have sweaty palms and a dry mouthy or butterflies in your tummy.
What is bad stress? (Distress)
If the stress is more than you can cope with, it is unhealthy. You may become ill,
unhappy and depressed. You are not able to do your task as well as you could. You
will have headaches or will not be able to sleep.
What is a stressor?
A stressor is anything, event or person that causes or triggers stress.
Symptoms of stress:
o Short term effects: Faster breathing/faster heart rate/dry mouth. Sweaty
palms/tension in your neck/butterflies in your tummy
o Long term effects: High blood pressure/headaches/ulcers/allergies etc.
Types of stressors:
o Physical: caused by physical harm, such as violence and sexual abuse.
o Environmental: caused by factors like extreme weather or pollution.
o Personality: people who are more prone to stress than others.
o Social: caused by the people around you e.g. peer pressure.
o Emotional: caused by your emotions e.g. relationship problems.
Why is it important to manage stress?
Your body produce cortisol and adrenalin. These are 2 stress hormones. Cortisol is
the hormone produced by fear, results in anxiety. Adrenalin is the hormone that
prepares the body to react physically to a threat. If you fail to manage your stress your
body can produce too much of the hormones for too long. The stress will damage your
body and change to chronic diseases like high blood pressure.
Factors that lead to stress in the work place:
o Poor management/poor planning by Autocracy by management
o Supervisors or managers. Tasks are demanding
o Lack of skills from other workers. Understaffed
o Poor work relations Low salary
o Poor relations between workers Poor resources to do proper job
o Poor work environment Poor work ethics by workers
o Incompetent workers Poor benefits
o Jealousy Poor attitude of superiors (no support )
, How to manage stress : Behaviours, techniques, strategies and examples of ways in
which stress can be managed
o Meditation is a natural method of relieving stress. Simple deep breathing exercises
can assist tremendously in relieving stress. Meditation helps to calm the mind.
o Exercise at least 3 times a week and eat healthy foods regularly.
o Avoid excess caffeine intake which can increase feelings of anxiety and agitation.
o Don't use illegal drugs, alcohol and tobacco.
o Learn relaxation exercises (abdominal breathing and muscle relaxation
techniques).
o Develop assertiveness training skills. For example, state feelings in polite, firm,
and not overly aggressive or passive ways ("I feel angry when you yell at me"
"Please stop yelling"). Rehearse and practice situations which cause stress.
o Learn practical and effective coping skills. For example, break a large task into
smaller, more attainable tasks.
o Decrease negative self -talk. Challenge negative thoughts about yourself with
alternative neutral or positive thoughts. "My life will never get better" can be
transformed into "I may feel hopeless now, but my life will probably get better if I
work at it and get some help."
o Learn to feel good about doing a competent job rather than demanding perfection
from yourself and others.
o Take a break from stressful situations. Activities like listening to music, talking to
a friend, drawing, writing, or spending time with a pet can reduce stress.
o Build a network of friends who help you cope in a positive way.
o A stress journal can help you identify the regular stressors in your life and the way
you deal with them. Each time you feel stressed; keep track of it in your journal. As
you keep a daily log, you will begin to see patterns and common themes.
o Learn how to say “no” – Know your limits and stick to them. Whether in your
personal or professional life, refuse to accept added responsibilities when you’re
close to reaching them. Taking on more than you can handle is a sure recipe for
stress and can lead to burn out.
o Avoid people who stress you out – If someone consistently causes stress in your
life and you can’t turn the relationship around, limit the amount of time you spend
with that person or end the relationship entirely.
o Plan: Take control of your environment – If the evening news makes you anxious,
turn the TV off. If traffic’s got you tense, take a longer but less-travelled route. If
going to the market is an unpleasant chore, do your grocery shopping online.
o Compile a to-do list – Analyze your schedule, responsibilities, and daily tasks. If
you’ve got too much on your plate, distinguish between the “should” and the “must.”
Drop tasks that aren’t truly necessary to the bottom of the list or eliminate them.
